What reading level is Bad Call?

Bad Call by Jennifer Liss is at a Level 2-3 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Bad Call appropriate for?

Bad Call is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 7C (Clear).

What genre is Bad Call?

Bad Call is fiction — High interest-low vocabulary books. Part of the Play Hard series.

Does Bad Call have any content warnings?

Bad Call has a HootRating of 7C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Bad Call?

Bad Call by Jennifer Liss is 42 pages (approximately 3,318 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Bad Call

Jennifer Liss

Bad Call

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jennifer Liss

Play Hard

Reading Level 2-3 7C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

Ana and Daniel are puzzled when the new referee suddenly halts their soccer team's big goal. As they prepare to face this official again, they learn that sometimes games aren’t just about winning, but also about fairness and teamwork.

Themes

Friendship SportsTeamworkFairness

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 2-3 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Bad Call 7C

Bad Call is written at a Level 2-3 reading level across 42 pages (approximately 3,318 words). Strong independent readers around grade 3.6 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Bad Call works for readers up to grade 4.6.

Read aloud, Bad Call takes about 22 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Bad Call as 7C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.

Thematically, Bad Call explores friendship, sports, teamwork, and fairness — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, sports, teamwork.